Self-serve food case



Jan. 24, 1933. T. F. SNODGRASS 1,895,089

' SELF SERVE FOOD CASE Fild Jan. 16, .1952

gwoentoz Patented Jan. 24, 1933 UNITED STATES TYLER F. SNODGRASS, OF DENVER, COLORADO SELF-SERVE FOOD CASE Application filed January 16, 1932. Serial No. 587,089.

This invention relates to improvements in refrigerator cases of the kindemployed in self-serving stores of the usual type.

There are several systems of stores operating in different parts of the country in which the customers, instead of being waited on by clerks, wait upon themselves, and after they have selected the goods they desire, these'are exhibited to the cashier, who figures their value and receives pay for them.

In many of these self-serve stores perishable goods, such as butter and meats are sold, as well as canned goods and goods of a non perishable nature. Where meats, especially fresh meats, are sold, these must be kept in refrigerators and the refrigerators must be so constructed that the customer can see the contents without opening the refrigerator, because, by so doing the temperature is maintained more constant and lower than if the refrigerators were opened for inspection.

It is the object of this invention to produce a refrigerator that shall be especially well adapted for use in self-serving stores of the type mentioned and which shall have its upper surface formed in part by a movable glass plate that serves as a closure for the opening through which access is had to the interior of the refrigerator.

Since the customers open and close these refrigerator cases, it is necessary to so con-' struct them that the doors or closures will automatically return to closed position when released for, if this construction is not used,

the doors or closures are often left wide open and therefore the temperature increases rapidly and dust-and dirt has an opportunity to enter through the opening.

This invention, briefly described, consists of a refrigerator case in which the temperature is preferably maintained at the desired value by means of coils through which some refrigerant is circulating. The upper surface of the case is preferably inclined and has an opening that is normally closed by means of a glass plate. At each end of the casing an inclined track is provided and on this track is located a roller assembly that supports theends of the glass plate. Secured to the upper edge of the glass plate are two wires or flexible tension members that extend over pulleys near the top of the casing and the free ends of these wires have attached to them counter weights. The combined weight of the counter weights is adjusted so that it is slightly less than the component of the force that tends to move the glass plate to closed position, and therefore when the glass plate is released, it will automatically return to closed position. The roller bearings provide an antifriction support that makes it possible for the glass plate to move very easily and for this reason the difference between the counter weight and the force that tends to bring the glass plate to closed position can be made very small with the result that the movement of the plate is slow but sure.

Having thus briefly described the invention, the same will now be described in detail, and for this purpose reference will be had to the accom anying drawing in which the preferred em odlment of the same has been illustrated, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a; front elevation of the improved refrigerator case;

Fig. 2 is a sectiontaken on line 2-2, Fig. 1; Iiig. 3 is a section taken on line 33, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4, Fig. 3.

The refrigerator case to which this invention relates is supported on a base 5. Since this base merely serves as a support and forms no part of the invention, except to the extent that it cooperates with the other parts to hold the case in proper vertical position, it will not be described in detail. The refrigerator case consists of a bottom member 6,

a front side member 7 a rear side wall 8 and two ends 9. The ends 9 are trapeziform and the front and rear edges, make right angles with the bottom. The upper edges-of the ends are inclined with respect to the bottom as shown in Fig. 2. Secured to the inner surface of each end member near the top thereof, is a track member 10. Member 10 has a portion cut out of the inner upper corner and this is lined by a sheet metal member 11,

as shown in Fi 4;. Secured to the inner edge of member 10 1s a plate 12 that extends upwardly a short distance over the bottom of member 11. Supported on each track is a roller assembly. These assemblies consist of a frame member 13 that is formed from sheet metal bent into U-shape. The top of the sheet metal frame is provided with openings 14 through which the upper sides of the rollers 15 project. A glass plate 16 extends from one track member to the other and has its end supported on the rollers 15. To hold the glass plate against accidental removal, a strip 17 of sheet metal is secured to the upper surface of the track member 10 and extends over the end glass plate, as shown in Fig. 4. There is one of these strips at each end of the glass plate, as clearly indicated in Fig. '3. Since the rollers contact with the bottom of the track and with the glass plate, the frame 13 will move at half the speed of the glass plate when the latter is moved from one position to the other. And, owing to the fact that there is no sliding contact. the glass plate can be moved with a small force because there is no a preciable amount of friction to overcome. Swing to the fact that the supporting surface is inclined, the weight of the glass plate can be resolved into two components, one of which is vertical and the other of which is in the plane of the plate and serves to move the latter to closed position. The inner surface of the refrigerator is lined with heat insulating material 18, that serves to exclude theheat and thereby facilitates the maintenance of the desired low temperature. Reference numerals 19 indicate refrigerating coils which have been shown diagrammatically for the reason that they form no part of the present invention. A metal shield 20 is located below and in front of the coils 19, as shown in Fig. 2. The rear wall of the refrigerator is provided with openings 21 through which the wires or flexible tension members 22 extend. One end of each of the members 22 is connected with the upper edge of the glass plate by means of U-shaped clevis like member 23. Members 22 extend through the openings and pass over pulleys 24 that are secured to the refrigerator. Secured to the free ends of members 22 are hollow counter weights 25. These are prefer ably partially filled with sand or other heavy material 26. The combined weights of the counter weights are adjusted so that it is slightly less than the component of the force which tends to move the glass plate 16 downwardly along the track and therefore if the glass plate is in closed position, it will remain in this position and it will also return to closed position from open position when released. The inclination of the track and the difference between the counter weight and the force, can be so proportioned that the glass plate will move slowly so as to avoid any severe shock when it reaches the position shown in Fig. 2. In order to give the case a finished appearance and to assure that the operation of the counter weights is not interfered with, a shallow compartment 27 is formed at the back of the refrigerator case. The rear wall of this compartment has been indicated by reference numeral 28.

Let us now assume that the plates are in the position shown in Fig. 2 and that a customer desires to get access to the interior of the refrigerator. The customer grasps the handles 29 and moves the glass plate upwardly. The plate can easily be held in open position because of the small amount of force necessar to move it. As soon as the plate isrelease it will automatically move to closed position.

It will readily be seen that with the construction of refrigerator cases just described, the contents are always visible through the glass plate 16 and can be readily made accessible y moving this .glass plate upwardly. Due to the construction just described, the glass plate will automatically move to closed position when released, and therefore there is no danger of the refrigerator case being left open as wouldoften occur if the customers were depended on to close the same.

The roller assembly shown and described is believed to be an im ortant portion of this invention, but by inc ining the tracks sufficiently, it is possible to secure the desired action without antifriction bearings. If the antifriction bearings are dispensed with, it is, however, necessary to make the track so steep that after the plate starts moving it will accelerate with sufiicient speed to cause a considerable' shock when it strikes the sto at the lower end and this would be highly ob ectionable for several reasons and therefore it is believed the antifriction bearings should always be employed.

In the drawing the refrigerator case has been shown as extending above the plane of the glass plate, but this is an optional construction and can be resorted to or not, as conditions may require.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A refrigerator comprising, a case having an opening at the top, a straight inclined track at each end of the opening, the two tracks being parallel and lying in the same plane, a roller assembly supported on each track, a glass plate having its ends supported on the rollers, a pair of flexible tension members attached to the upper edge of the glass plate, pulleys secured to the refrigerator case above the upper edge of the inclined glass plate, said members passing over the pulleys, a weight secured to the end of each member, the value of the weights'being slightly less than the component force tending to move the plate downwardly along the inclined track whereby, when the plate is released, it will automatically move downwardly into closed position and holding devices secured to the track members and projecting over the ends of the glass plate to guide the latter and to hold it in position on the rollers and prevent its accidental displacement.

2. A refrigerator comprising, a substantially rectangular casing having vertical ends, the ends and sides forming right angles with the bottom, a top formed in part by a I fiat glass plate inclined upwardly and rearwardly, the rear wall being higher than the 1 front wall, an inclined track carried by each end wall, the two tracks being parallel and lying in the same plane, a roller assembly supported on each track, the ends of the glass plate resting on the rollers, a guide strip secured to the ends of the casing and extending over the ends of the glass plate, two pulleys secured to the casing above the upper edge of the plate, a flexible tension member passing over each pulley, one end of each. tension member being attached to the plate, a counter weight attached to the other end of each tension member, the combined weight of the counter weights being slightly less than the component force tending to move the glass plate downwardly along the track whereby the glass plate will automatically move to its lowermost position when released.

3. A refrigerator comprising a flat bottom vertical front and rear walls and two vertica end walls attached at their lower edges to the bottom, a straight track attached to the inside of each end wall, the two tracks being parallel and inclined upwardly from front to back, a roller assembly supported on each track a flat glass plate supported at its ends by the rollers, the vertical rear wall having a compartment for counterweights, a pluralit of pulleys supported by the rear wall with t eir upper surfaces substantially in the lane of the glass plate, a flexible member or each pulley, one end of each flexible member being attached to the upper edge of the glass cover plate, and a counterweight attached to the other end of each flexible member, the

combined weights of the several counterweights being slightly less than the force that tends to move the cover plate to its lowermost position whereby the cover will move to closed position by the action of gravity alone.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

TYLER F. SNODGRASS. 

